September 25, 2017

IF YOU PLAY WITH FIRE, YOU ARE GOING TO GET BURNED!

Proverbs 6:20–35

Michele James
Monday's Devo

September 25, 2017

Monday's Devo

September 25, 2017

Central Truth

God doesn't merely want behavior modification; He desires heart transformation. When we trust Christ as our Savior, there is a divine exchange. Because of His death on the cross, we have been made new both in our heart and in our actions, and obeying His Word provides direction and protection.

Key Verse | Proverbs 6:23, 27–28

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life . . . .
Can a man carry fire next to his chest
and his clothes not be burned? 
Or can one walk on hot coals 
and his feet not be scorched?
(Proverbs 6:23, 27-28)

Proverbs 6:20–35

Warnings Against Adultery

20  My son, keep your father's commandment,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching.
21  Bind them on your heart always;
    tie them around your neck.
22  When you walk, they 1 6:22 Hebrew it; three times in this verse will lead you;
    when you lie down, they will watch over you;
    and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23  For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
    and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
24  to preserve you from the evil woman, 2 6:24 Revocalization (compare Septuagint) yields from the wife of a neighbor
    from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. 3 6:24 Hebrew the foreign woman
25  Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
    and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;
26  for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, 4 6:26 Or (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate) for a prostitute leaves a man with nothing but a loaf of bread
    but a married woman 5 6:26 Hebrew a man's wife hunts down a precious life.
27  Can a man carry fire next to his chest
    and his clothes not be burned?
28  Or can one walk on hot coals
    and his feet not be scorched?
29  So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife;
    none who touches her will go unpunished.
30  People do not despise a thief if he steals
    to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,
31  but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold;
    he will give all the goods of his house.
32  He who commits adultery lacks sense;
    he who does it destroys himself.
33  He will get wounds and dishonor,
    and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34  For jealousy makes a man furious,
    and he will not spare when he takes revenge.
35  He will accept no compensation;
    he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

Footnotes

[1] 6:22 Hebrew it; three times in this verse
[2] 6:24 Revocalization (compare Septuagint) yields from the wife of a neighbor
[3] 6:24 Hebrew the foreign woman
[4] 6:26 Or (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate) for a prostitute leaves a man with nothing but a loaf of bread
[5] 6:26 Hebrew a man's wife

Dive Deeper | Proverbs 6:20–35

We moved to the country when my boys were ages 4 and 7. One thing I quickly learned was that boys love to build fires. During one of our first campfires, my younger son tripped and fell as he was walking around the fire, burning his hand on a hot coal. There was no comfort I could give him or medicine that would take away the pain of the burn. My heart broke to see him in pain, and I deeply regretted that I had not been more careful. I should have made a boundary of protection to keep him away from the fire and prevent him from stumbling into danger.

As adults, we can also walk too close to the fire. We flirt with temptation, instead of fleeing, thinking we will not get burned (1 Corinthians 6:18).  Our biggest regrets in life could have been avoided if we had set predetermined boundaries to prevent us from heading down a path of pain and destruction. No one intends to destroy their marriage, ruin their finances, or become an addict, but through a series of unwise decisions, we begin to walk in the direction of divorce, bankruptcy, or addiction.

Because our culture will lure us to the edge and into the fire, we must establish personal boundaries in order to be under God’s protection and bring Him honor. Satan knows just how to tempt us, so we must also identify our sin struggles. We need to inform our minds daily of God’s Word and allow the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts by permitting Him to guide us. We need to surround ourselves with a community of believers with whom we can be honest, share our struggles, and humbly allow to hold us accountable. We must realize that when we compromise, it only weakens our resolve, making it easier to sin again.

Instead of asking, “how close can I get to the fire without getting burned,” we should ask, “how can I honor God?” (1 Corinthians 6:20) If we chose to honor God, we will never regret it.

Discussion Questions

1. Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” What are some of the ways that our culture leads us into the fire either morally or financially? What are some actions that you are taking to counteract Satan’s lies so you can abide in Christ and understand the Lord’s will for your life?

Through my community group and Equipped Disciple at Watermark, God has allowed my heart to be informed by His Word and my walk with Him to deepen. Community is not always easy, but God has used it to draw me closer to Him and love Him more. If you haven’t already joined a Watermark community group, sign up for the next GroupLink.

2. In what areas of your life do you need resolve to stand firm against sin struggles? Before you are tempted to begin walking down the wrong path, what personal boundaries do you need to establish?

Watermark’s recovery ministry, re:generation, has helped me discover the root of my sin struggles and experience freedom in Christ. It has also allowed me to be surrounded by other believers who will speak truth in love and hold me accountable.

3. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” For a believer in Christ, what does it mean that “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?” What does it mean to “glorify God in your body?”